2^2 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY, 



toward the prosperity of the community. The farms through- 

 out this section give evidence of improvement. At the same 

 time we all realize that the fruit industry of this section is not 

 what it ought to be, and the fruit industry of Maine, and of 

 New England, is not what it ought to be, but by such gatherings 

 as this we solve some of the problems, and get that interest, 

 uplift and stimulus which sends us back to the farms to push 

 the work a little further, and a little harder, than we have in the 

 past. 



Professor Robertson, a few weeks ago, in setting forth the 

 marvelous advancement in Canada during the past ten years, 

 gave as the reason above all else why this advance had been so 

 marked, that the "Press of Canada is a unit in praise of the 

 farmers." 



Now that one sentence stands as a solution of the whole prob- 

 lem we have to face to-day. Along our dairy and fruit lines let 

 us all have words of praise. When the press stops to criticize 

 there is woe. When the farmers stop complaining of hard times 

 and set their faces toward better times, determined to find them, 

 conscious of the fact that they are solving some oi the problems, 

 the trees will not die, and a happy, contented and prosperous 

 people' will be settled on the farms of Maine, and elsewhere, and 

 we shall all be singing the song of rejoicing. 



Thanking the citizens of Newport for their generous and 

 hospitable welcome, let us take up the last thought that Mr. 

 Sanborn gave us, let us stop complaining and set our faces 

 toward the sun. 



